The wrestling world lost another Superstar too early last week. Chris Candido of NwA-TnA passed away the other day because of complications from surgery on his broken ankle, suffered at TnA’s PPV “Lockdown.” Candido was not supposed to be wrestling that night, but due to TnA releasing Kid Cash he was asked to join in a tag match involving himself, Lance Hoyt, Apollo, and Sonny Siaki. Candido was only 33 years old.
Television contracts are all the buzz in the wrestling industry these past two weeks. The WWE is moving to U.S.A. Network in September. This leaves an open Monday night slot. Spike TV has been giving open casting calls to all comers to help figure out what to do with time slot. NwA-TnA, who just last week was thought to be out of the running, supposedly has become the front-runner to land the coveted 9-11 p.m. spot.
NwA-TnA has a contract to do its weekly Impact show on Foxsports until September. There is no word just yet whether they will re-up with Foxsports or not. As for other TnA news, there have been some budget cutbacks recently. Until they can secure a prime time television slot, the spending has been rolled back. This cost cutting may provoke Monty Brown to jump ship; he is in talks with the WWE.
As for the WWE, they are about to roll with a storyline putting Edge and Lita together as heels. What a classy way to kick Matt Hardy while he is down and out. The Sixshooter will never understand what the WWE sees in Edge. He has never, and will never draw a crowd. Edge’s last name should be Undercard, because that is all he will ever be.
In other wrestling related news, the Sixshooter has had time to sit down and play two of the WWE’s newest video games. The first review is for “Xbox: Wrestlemania XXI.” This game seemed like it would be a winner when I got a chance to look at it in preproduction but it turned out to be a monumental failure.
Whatever you do as a wrestling or video game fan, please do not even look at the box for this game. The collision detection is a joke and the storyline mode is a mess. There are instances where you can punch a guy who is 5 to 6 feet away from you. There are also instances where the game freezes up and makes you lose the information you have saved.
As for the other wrestling video game that the Sixshooter got a hold of, it is definitely a winner. “Playstation 2: Smackdown vs. Raw” is a masterpiece. The story mode is fun and filled with interesting plot twists and the create-a-wrestler options are spectacular. The graphics are top notch, and the game play is good enough to get by. If you liked “Here Comes The Pain,” you will love this.
Now that the video game reviews are over, let us travel into the realm of wrestling rumors. One rumor that recently surfaced is in the wrestling video game world. Some backstage sources say that NwA’s first video game will be produced by AKI. You may know the name; they did all the great wrestling games on N64 for WCW and the WWE. Matt Hardy has reportedly made a deal with NwA-TnA to join as soon as his no compete clause expires in three months. As for the recently released Rhyno, there has been no contact with NwA as of yet. Luther Reins was released by the WWE last week and the post Wrestlemania cuts may continue. A little birdie says to look for some big names to become free agents.
Another rumor has Hulk Hogan returning once again. The Sixshooter thinks that Hogan had fun coming back but a full-time return will never happen. He may do a lighter schedule like PPVs and some TV, but it would not happen right away. Hogan is still recovering from hip replacement surgery.
As for some booking rumors, NwA-TnA has removed Dusty Rhodes as head booker. He will stay on with the company as an on air talent but that is it. Kevin Nash has offered his services, but there has been no firm booker or booking committee decided upon yet. Word is they would rather have a committee at the moment.
The WWE is toying with the idea of removing HHH from Raw and sending him over to Smackdown. The switch would be for Kurt Angle. The Sixshooter thinks that this would be a great move, but I would have to see it to believe it. If HHH has his own way, and he usually does, expect to see Batista take on Kane next. The thinking being that it would kill ratings and force the WWE to give him back the belt.
Well that is all for this month Sixshooter-a-holics. Remember to check out my Web site over at http://www.expage.com/mattygsite. I do update when things go on between articles. On a final note, the Sixshooter would like to wish Captain Lou Albano a speedy recovery. The Captain suffered a heart attack last week and is said to be in stable condition.